Kosher Guide to Barcelona

Spain is in the European Union and the Schengen Area. Visitors need a passport valid for their whole stay; citizens of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Israel and many other countries can visit without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, while others need a Schengen visa before travelling.

Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat airport is about 15 km from the centre. Metro line L9 Sud serves both terminals with an airport ticket costing €5.90, the Aerobús express bus runs to Plaça de Catalunya, and a taxi to the La Rambla area costs about €35.

No. The metro, buses and trams cover the city, a single ticket costs €2.90 and a 10-journey T-casual card €13. Parking is scarce and expensive, and the Chabad House, Taim and the hotels around it in Les Corts are all within walking distance of one another.

The Chabad House of Barcelona is at Carrer del Montnegre 14 in Les Corts, with Shacharit at 7:30 AM Monday to Friday and 8:30 AM on Sundays, and Friday-night and Shabbat-morning services. The Comunidad Israelita de Barcelona synagogue is at Carrer de l'Avenir 24 in Sant Gervasi–Galvany, and Centro Bet David is in the Gothic Quarter at Plaça de Ramon Berenguer el Gran 2.

No. There is no eruv anywhere in Barcelona, so carrying outdoors on Shabbat, including keys and strollers, is not permitted.

Chabad of Barcelona holds a communal Shabbat dinner every Friday night at the Chabad House on Carrer del Montnegre, attended by local families and visitors from around the world. Places must be reserved in advance through its registration page, which closes early on Friday. Taim Barcelona also sells dishes for pickup if ordered by 2:00 PM the day before.

Taim Barcelona, at Carrer del Taquígraf Garriga 87 in Les Corts, is a glatt kosher meat restaurant under Chabad supervision with takeaway and delivery. El Falafel de Shani sells vegan falafel at stalls 133–134 in La Boqueria market. Ben Ben (Carrer d'Aribau 257) and Kosher Babait (Carrer de l'Avenir 22) are kosher groceries with meat, and Call Bcn Kosher Wine in the Gothic Quarter sells kosher wine and basic products.

For Shabbat, Les Corts is the most practical base: NH Collection Barcelona Constanza, the Derby Hotel, Meliá Barcelona Sarrià and Hilton Barcelona are all within walking distance of the Chabad House and Taim, and the Atenea Barcelona Aparthotel offers apartments nearby. The Gothic Quarter is central for sightseeing but far from the Chabad House on foot.

Yes. Chabad of Barcelona runs a women's mikveh at Carrer de Bordeus 25, next to the Chabad House in Les Corts. Visits are by appointment only, arranged in advance with Rebbetzin Nechama Libersohn on +34 607 922 805.

The kosher restaurant and shops close on Shabbat: Taim closes at 3:00 PM on Friday, and Ben Ben, Kosher Babait and Call Bcn Kosher Wine close at 2:00 PM on Friday and reopen on Sunday. Most of the city, including museums, shops and Gaudí sites, stays open on Saturday.

Yes. Chabad of Barcelona publishes the Kosher App Spain, which lets shoppers scan a product's barcode to see whether it is on its list of kosher products sold in regular Spanish supermarkets.

The Call, the medieval Jewish quarter in the Gothic Quarter, has the Sinagoga Mayor de Barcelona on Carrer de Marlet, a medieval synagogue building open as a museum space. Chabad's Call Bcn Kosher Wine shop and Centro Bet David are a few minutes' walk away.

Spain uses the euro (EUR). Electricity is 230V with Type C and F plugs, the same as most of continental Europe. The country calling code is +34.